Ekholm making a difference for Edmonton Oilers in return from injury
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And he followed up with the tying goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, forcing the overtime period where Leon Draisaitl ended up scoring the 4-3 winner to give them a 1-0 series lead over the same Florida Panthers they lost to in seven games exactly one year ago.
Two games. Two crucial points. Two more wins of the 16 the Oilers need to surpass the 15 from last year's near-miraculous ride.
At this point, you might even say the Oilers were missing Ekholm more for his offensive prowess than the staunch defence he's known for on the team's top pairing alongside Evan Bouchard.
And it would be hard to argue.
Especially after watching Ekholm snap home a puck that was threaded to him on a seeing-eye pass by McDavid in the third period to knot the score 3-3, returning the favour from one game earlier.
'I don't know if he sees me or not, but it was a great pass,' Ekholm said. 'He put it on a platter for me. It was kind of one of those I have to score.
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Global News
an hour ago
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2 hours ago
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Draisaitl-McDavid combo gives Oilers a nuclear fallback plan against Panthers
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